Sorry, everyone, but Tuesday night the only thing you will be allowed to watch on television is the results of the presidential election as they slowly roll in from across this great nation of ours. Yes, that means field reporting, concession speeches, red and blue states on a big old poster behind the anchor desk, and pundits turning red in their faces when the races don’t go their way.
Even if you can’t tell the difference between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and a donkey and an elephant fighting over pizza and burritos, you’re going to have to watch something. But what? Here are all your major choices, broken down by what to expect and what is the best for you. If you’re going to be stuck with journalists, you might as well find some that you like.
ABC
Talent: Diane Sawyer, George (copy, paste) Stephanopoulos, Barbara Walters, and Katie Couric
Pros: Sawyer and Stephanopoulos have both actually worked in the White House, so that is some real K Street cred right there. With Walters and Kouric they’ll have a nice balance of hard and soft news. Also, they have a lot of female reporters. It’s almost as if they had a binder, and it was full of women, and that’s who they put on the show.
Cons: Walters and Kouric have devolved into daytime chatterers. They might not be able to deliver the gravitas an occasion like this merits. And seriously, can’t we just put Barbara Walters on Social Security already and make her give up a place at the anchor desk? Oh, wait, not if Mitt Romney wins and there is no more Social Security. Never mind.
Watch This If…: You think The View is hard-hitting journalism.
CBS
Talent: Scott Pelley, Bob Schieffer, Norah O’Donnell, John Dickerson
Pros: Bob Schieffer moderated one of the debates, so he might have some insights. The network will be using virtual reality models to display the election results. I don’t know what that means, but “virtual reality” always sounds like the future.
Cons: What is a Scott Pelley? Who are these people?
Watch This If…: You are old and can’t find NCIS.
NBC
Talent: Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, David Gregory, Savannah Guthrie, Andrea Mitchell, Tamron Hall
Pros: Everyone will be reporting from a place called Democracy Plaza, which sounds like what the inside of a voting booth should be like. Either that or a politics-themed restaurant in Times Square. There will be a lot of really deep voices, so your dog won’t be able to hear a thing. It’s also the only major network to bring back a returning anchor, so thanks, Brokaw. Oh, and have you seen Brian Williams on 30 Rock? He brings the funny.
Cons: Tamron Hall will be reporting from the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink. We are already embarrassed for her. Also, no one likes Savannah Guthrie (especially Ann Curry).
Watch This If…: You want to be like the cast of Girls.
Fox News
Talent: Bill O’Reilly, Greta Van Susteren, Brit Hume, Chris Wallace, Sarah Palin, Karl Rove
Pros: If Mitt Romney loses, they’ll freak out so bad it will look like a million nervous breakdowns at once.They’re the only ones to have a former candidate in the newsroom.
Cons: That candidate is Sarah Palin. Also, Karl Rove, a lugey of human phlegm that came to life, will share his evil ways. That could be insightful but is also like making out with Emperor Palpatine. And, just like MSNBC, this broadcast has a political bias. Unlike MSNBC, they’re not bothered by those little things called facts.
Watch This If…: You hate truth, liberty, and the American way.
CNN
Talent: Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, Erin Burnett, Paul Begala, James Carville, Alex Castellanos, Ari Fleischer, Margaret Hoover, Van Jones, Roland Martin and Ana Navarro. Is there anyone they didn’t hire?
Pros: Since it’s a news network, you can watch it all darn day so you can get all the sweet political news you need to stay alive. Also, it tries to be fair and balanced, which is nice. You never know when Cooper is going to lapse into a fit of the giggles and Begala and Carville are the funniest talking heads in all of punditville.
Cons: Who wants their news balanced? Tell me what to think, news! I’m stupid and need some opinions. Also, remember last election when Wolf Blitzer talked to a hologram. Yeah, that’s gone. I already miss it.
Watch This If…: Like Anderson, you’d rather be watching Real Housewives.
MSNBC
Talent: Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Rev. Al Sharpton, Lawrence O’Donnell, Ed Schultz, Steve Schmidt
Pros: If there was ever a pro, it’s Rev. Al Sharpton. If Obama wins, he’ll go crazy. If Romney wins, he’ll go double crazy. Stay tuned! Also, Matthews will yell and Maddow will say lots of smart and vaguely mean things that are totally right.
Cons: There doesn’t seem to be any virtual reality, holograms, reincarnated robots of William Taft, or anything. Where are the bells and whistles?
Watch This If…: You wear glasses.
CSPAN
Talent: None
Pros: Well, it’s unfiltered, unbiased coverage of the democratic process.
Cons: That sounds more dry and boring than a dump truck full of Shredded Wheat.
Watch This If…: You hate fun.
Comedy Central
Talent: Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert
Pros: Screw taping, these guys are going live! That means the funny is going to be fast, furious, and possibly NSFW (damn those seven-second delays). Also, Colbert’s half hour is called Election 2012: A Nation Votes, Ohio Decides; The Re-Presidenting of America: Who Will Replace Obama? ‘012!. Yup, I’d watch that. Oh, and he’ll have Andrew Sullivan too.
Cons: Their coverage starts at 11 PM, so you have nothing to watch until then. But, then again, if you have a life outside of watching boring political reporting on TV, then that is actually a pro. They each only get 30 minutes. Boo!
Watch This If…: You think The Onion is real.
Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan
[Photo Credit: Getty Images (2), Comedy Central]
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